Trifolium plant named &#39;tflrg05-0&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Trifolium  cultivar named ‘TFLRG05-0’ is disclosed, characterized by Unique gray green leaf coloration with a red zigzag pattern, foliage with a majority of 4 leaflets per leaf, small leaf size, and compact plant formation. The new variety is a  Trifolium , typically produced as an ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Trifolium repens

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TFLRG05-0’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. Theobjectives of the planned breeding program were to develop new Trifoliumvarieties with interesting foliage for ornamental purposes. The breedingprogram was developed under the direction of the co-inventors, TakayukiKobayashi and Kazunori Sato, in Japan. The new variety originated from across pollination of an unpatented, unnamed, proprietary variety ofTrifolium repens seed parent and the pollen parent, a differentunpatented, unnamed, proprietary variety of Trifolium repens. Thecrossing was made during 2007.

The new variety was selected by the inventors, Takayuki Kobayashi andKazunori Sato, in September 2011 in a group of seedlings resulting fromthe crossing. The new cultivar was selected in a non-commercialgreenhouse in Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TFLRG05-0’ was first performedat a non-commercial greenhouse in Japan by vegetative cuttings in March2012. More than 5 generations have been reproduced by vegetativecuttings. Subsequently, propagation has also been performed by tissueculture. Both methods have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TFLRG05-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TFLRG05-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘TFLRG05-0’ as a new and distinct Trifoliumcultivar:

1. Unique gray green leaves with a red pattern.2. Typically 4 leaflets per leaf for more than 50% of foliage per plant.3. Leaf size is little smaller than normal Trifolium.4. Plant size is compact.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TFLRG05-0’ are similar to the proprietaryTrifolium repens seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. Thenew variety however differs in the following characteristics:

1. Different foliage coloration.2. Different leaflet count per leaf.3. Stronger growth rate.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TFLRG05-0’ are similar to the proprietarypollen parent in most horticultural characteristics. The new varietyhowever differs in the following characteristics:

1. Variegated foliage coloration, pollen parent is has solid foliagecoloration.2. Different leaflet count per leaf.3. Faster and more vigorous plant.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘TFLRG05-0’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial varietyTrifolium ‘Just Wish Happy Life’. Plants of ‘Just Wish Happy Life’ aresimilar to plants of ‘TFLRG05-0’ in most horticultural characteristics.However ‘TFLRG05-0’ differs from ‘Just Wish Happy Life’ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Faster growth rate.2. Leaflet is smaller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘TFLRG05-0’ grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula,Calif. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot.The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘TFLRG05-0’ plants grown in a climatecontrolled greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from20° C. to 25° C. at night to 25° C. to 32° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants.Plants were grown in 50% shade. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Trifolium repens ‘TFLRG05-0’-   Propagation:    -   -   Root description.—Fine, non -fleshy roots. Roots            approximately 0.3 cm thick, colored near RHS White 155A.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous, upright perennial with basally            emerging foliage. Foliage emerges from a system of above            ground rhizotamous sterns.        -   Plant shape.—Upright, petioles slightly arching out and            undulating.        -   Height.—Approximately 19 cm to top of foliar plane.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 30 cm in a 6 inch pot.        -   Pot size of plant described.—5 inch.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid and vigorous.        -   Branching characteristics.—No true branching. Leaves emerge            direct from above ground rhizotamous stems.        -   Rhizotamous stems.—Approximately 3 to 5 main stems on a            plant of 6 months. Diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm. Length:            Variable, average range 10 to 30 cm. Stems will circle the            edge of the pot. Color: Near Green 143C Texture: Smooth            Appearance: Shiny.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 6 months.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—        -   Number of leaves per plant.—Approximately 65 to 80 compound            leaves. Arrangement: Compound leaf made up of 3 to 5            leaflets. Leaflets rotate, if 3 to 5 occurring. Opposite            arrangement when 4 leaflets. 4 leaflet arrangement is most            common. Compound Leaf: Average diameter: 3.2 cm. Average            depth: 0.9 cm. Leaflets: Average Length: 1.8 cm, including            leaflet petiole Average Width: 0.9 to 1.5 cm Shape of blade:            Orbicular. Aspect: Slightly undulating, mainly flat. Apex:            Retuse. Base: Rounded. Margin: Very fine serration.            Attached: Stalked Appearance: Matte, both upper and lower            surfaces. Texture of top surface: Smooth. Texture of bottom            surface: Smooth. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS            Green138D. Large deltate shaped blotch at leaflet base near            Greyed-Purple N186B. Surrounding basal blotch, irregular            halo colored Greyed-Purple 187D. Mid vein coloration extends            to apex, near Greyed-Purple N186B. Young foliage under side:            Near RHS Green138C. Moderate blotching along mid vein near            Greyed-Purple 187B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS            Green138D. Large deltate shaped blotch at leaflet base near            Greyed-Purple N186B. Surrounding basal blotch, large,            irregular halo colored Greyed-Purple 187D. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green138B. Moderate blotching along mid            vein near Greyed-Purple N186C and 187B, both colors present            individually.        -   Leaflet petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.15 cm Width:            Approximately 0.1 cm Color: Near Green 138C Texture: Smooth.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation coloration upper side: Mid            vein Green 143C. Upper veins Green 138C. Venation coloration            under side: Mid vein Green 143C. Upper veins Green 138C.        -   Leaf petiole.—Length: Approximate range from 5.5 cm to            20 cm. Width: Approximately 0.2 cm Color: Near Green 143B            Texture: Smooth Appearance: Shiny Strength: Highly flexible,            moderately strong.-   Inflorescence: Flowering has not been observed to date.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to            the normal diseases and pests of Trifolium observed to date.        -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—The new cultivar is a            typical Trifolium, cold tolerant to approximately 5° to            7° C. and does not tolerate drought.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Trifolium plantnamed ‘TFLRG05-0’ as herein illustrated and described.